China came from behind to win their opening Group C game at the 2019 Asian Cup as they triumphed 2-1 against Kyrgyzstan in Al Ain.
It had been Kyrgyzstan who opened the scoring four minutes before half time as Akhlidin Israilov hooked a shot home from the edge of the area.
But China were level, in fortuitous circumstances five minutes after the restart, as Kyrgyzstan goalkeeper Pavel Matiash punched a cross against his own bar and the ball rebounded off him and into the net.
A miserable afternoon for Matiash at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium was completed with 12 minutes to go as he was slow to react to a ball over the top by the Chinese, with Yu Dabao beating him to the ball and rolling his short into an empty net to give Marcello Lippi's men the three points.
China will next go up against the Philippines on Friday in Abu Dhabi at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, while Kyrgyzstan will face the tough task to bounce back against group favourites South Korea at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
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